2026 World Cup

Who are Folarin Balogun’s parents? Where was he born and why did he choose to play for the USA

Folarin Balogun scored twice against Paraguay to continue his red-hot form and cement his status as the leader of the U.S. attack at the 2026 World Cup.

RICHARD HEATHCOTE

Alejandro Reza David Nelson

Estados Unidos Update: Jun 13th, 2026 10:35 EDT

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Folarin Balogun has emerged as one of the stars of the early stages of the 2026 World Cup after scoring twice in the United States’ 4-1 victory over Paraguay in their opening game in Group D.

The 24-year-old striker arrived at the tournament on the back of an impressive season with AS Monaco and immediately carried that form onto the international stage, delivering a match-winning display in the USMNT’s opening group game.

Who are Folarin Balogun’s parents?

Balogun’s journey to becoming a U.S. international is one of the most unusual stories in American soccer.

He was born in Brooklyn, New York, on July 3, 2001, to Nigerian parents, Florence and Ben Balogun. However, his birth in the United States was largely accidental.

Who are Folarin Balogun’s parents? Where was he born and why did he choose to play for the USA — BalogunMatthew Childs

His mother was visiting family in New York while seven months pregnant and planned to return home to London before giving birth. But when she attempted to board her flight, airline staff refused to allow her to travel without medical clearance because of her advanced pregnancy. Unable to obtain the required documentation in time, she remained in Brooklyn and gave birth there instead. That unexpected twist gave Balogun U.S. citizenship by birth.

Just weeks later, the family returned to England, where Balogun spent virtually his entire childhood. He grew up in London and developed his love of soccer there, eventually joining Arsenal’s famed academy at the age of eight.

His talent was evident from an early age, and Arsenal’s Hale End system helped shape him into one of the most highly regarded young forwards in English soccer.

The Monaco move that transformed his career

After making his senior Arsenal debut in 2020 and spending time on loan to continue his development, Balogun found the ideal environment to establish himself at AS Monaco.

The French club gave him the opportunity to play regularly, build confidence and become the centerpiece of its attack.

During the 2025-26 Ligue 1 season, Balogun made 31 appearances, starting 26 matches while recording 14 goals and five assists. In European competition, he added three goals and one assist in eight appearances, further underlining his importance to the team.

A striker arriving at the World Cup in top form

Across all competitions, Balogun finished the campaign with 18 goals in 42 appearances.

His strong finish to the season included several crucial goals that helped Monaco remain among the leading teams in French soccer.

That form carried into the U.S. national team camp, where he arrived full of confidence and determined to bring his scoring touch to the biggest stage in the sport. His performance against Paraguay suggested he is ready to do exactly that.

Balogun’s path to the USMNT

Balogun’s international journey was far from straightforward.

Because he was born in the United States to Nigerian parents and raised in England, he was eligible to represent all three countries. He played for England at multiple youth levels and was also eligible for Nigeria.

Ultimately, he chose the United States in 2023 after receiving approval from FIFA to switch his international allegiance. The decision gave the USMNT the natural goalscorer it had been searching for, while Balogun embraced the opportunity to represent the country of his birth.

Since making his senior debut in 2023, Balogun has developed into one of the key figures in the American program.

He was part of the squads that won the Concacaf Nations League in 2023 and 2024 and has firmly established himself as the United States’ first-choice striker heading into and throughout the 2026 World Cup.